LEGACIES: Legendary Agbaje Salami’s Contributions Towards Ibadan Central Mosque’s Construction

…and of those who made generous contributions towards the scheme, it will suffice to mention only one name, the late  Chief SALAMI AGBAJE, then a prince merchant who later became the BALOGUN of lbadan, supplied not only essential building materials but also transported them from the coast at his own expense as well as made the largest single donation of £500.00 towards the Mosque Building Fund. The impact of such a generosity was tremendous in those days.

About the Central Mosque at Oja-Oba, Ibadan City.

The quest for a worthy Central Mosque for the great city of Ibadan, where its teeming Moslem population can hold their Jumat prayers on Fridays began early in the history of the City. It is a story of constant striving for a more commodious and worthier edifice which would testify to the Glory of Allah and the message of His Prophet; it records the courage and munificence of early Ibadan Moslem heroes, and the devotion and self-sacrifice of the present generation of Ibadan Moslems.

The first Central Mosque was built in 1830 during the reign of IBA OLUYOLE, THE BASHORUN OF IBADAN, and it was demolished and rebuilt during the turbulent times of the same OBA. The second Mosque was built in 1850 on the present site which had been obtained from BALE OPEAGBE for the purpose by CHIEF OSHUNDINA who then the leading MUSLIM Chief in Ibadan and the then Chief Imam Abdulahi(Sunnugun) from Sokoto. It was a small building of mud walls and roofed with thatch. Although, the thatch was exchanged for corrugated
iron sheets in 1900, the Mosque itself evidently become too small for the growing Moslem elements of the Ibadan population, and by 1921, the leading Moslems in the community joined forces in an attempt to provide the city with a worthy Central Mosque and of those who made generous contributions towards the scheme, it will suffice to mention only one name, the late  Chief SALAMI AGBAJE, then a prince merchant who later became the BALOGUN of lbadan, supplied not only essential building materials but also transported them from the coast at his own expense as well as made
the largest single donation of £500.00 towards the Mosque Building Fund. The
impact of such a generosity was tremendous in those days. Soon after the completion of the 1921 Mosque, however, the need for expansion became urgent again on account of the growing population of Ibadan, and in this era of both physical and site expansion, the part played by the late Olubadan, His Royal Highness, OBA ABASI OKUNOLA ALESHINLOYE, should never be forgotten; He made notable contributions towards the cost of the repair and extension of the old Mosque, and also made possible, the acquisition of additional plots to widen the grounds of the Mosque. He seemed to have seen the vision of a gigantic mosque rising majestically in the city of Ibadan, and large enough to accommodate a vast congregation of moslems, and he, in addition did his best to prepare the way for the realisation of that far-sighted vision.

THE PRESENT COMMITTEE

In 1954 however, our organisation under the name of IBADAN CENTRAL MOSQUE BUILDING FUND COMMITTEE with ALHAJI SALAMI LANIYAN ALLI as Chairman, took up the challenge. The Committee was charged with the responsibility of planning a new CENTRAL MOSQUE which would accord with the dignity of Ibadan, the largest indigenous city in the whole of Africa, and the capital of the Oyo State of Nigeria, and enhance the status of the Moslems living therein as as envisaged by His Royal Highness, Oba Abasi Aleshinloye, the late OLUBADAN. The Committee eventually came to the conclusion that the said mosque was too small and out-moded in style and construction, and that Ibadan city deserved a modern mosque that will be large enough for its size, and magnificient enough for its prestige. lt was their responsibility not only to design such a mosque, but also to find the funds for building it.

The Committee, however, believed in self help, and so called for local contributions first: these came in slowly but steadily.
Inevitably, doubts arose as to whether or
not, the aim was too high or a more modest mosque might be more manageable. The resolves remain; namely, to produce a building which will meet the needs of Ibadan city for many years to come.

As contributions trickled in, a near miracle occur. Allah Himself sent us an ideal architect, a young Nigerian, MR. LAYI OJO (and a “son of the soil”) who understood our needs and addressed himself to the all- task of designing the Mosque. The result is now before you; it is a fashion of the traditional combined with modern in order to produce an excellent piece of architectural design. After that, the building was handled by MESSRS PONTI & CO. (ITALWARE).

Credit: Barrister Akeem Agbaje.
(Culled from, “About the Central Mosque at Oja-Oba, Ibadan City).

Barrister Akeem Agbaje, a legal luminary and illustrious son of Ibadan land, hailed from a family of many firsts; Late Dr. Anthony Saka Agbaje, the first medical doctor of Ibadan origin, Late Chief Abdul Mojeed Folarin Agbaje, the first lawyer of Ibadan Origin; and Late Hon. Justice Abdul Ganiyu Agbaje JSC, the first Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria of Ibadan origin.

Barr. Akeem is a progeny of the Legendary Agbaje Salami L’Ayeye. The Great Agbaje Salami was an earlier Ibadan billionaire, first generation Nigerian politician, influential statesman and notable philanthropist, who immensely contributed his own quota to the sociocultural, socioreligious and sociopolitical advancements and progress of Ibadan Land and its environs.